PAFI files contempt of court vs CFI, Bantay Radyo owner

CEBU, Philippines - PAFI (The Sower of Seeds) Foundation, represented by its vice-president Eliodoro “Yody” Sanchez, has filed a civil case for contempt of court plus damages against Sarraga Integrated and Management Corporation (SIAM), represented by its president, and Cebu CFI Community Cooperative, Inc.

In the petition, PAFI alleged that respondents defied the temporary restraining order issued by the court.

It blamed the two for the loss of “exciters” of their radio stations located in Negros Oriental, Bogo City, and Cebu City after unidentified men pulled them out from the radio transmitters.

PAFI said SIAM and Cebu CFI took the exciters past midnight or early morning of August 1 “in complete defiance of the TRO issued by the court.”

“Respondents, through one Arleen Jimenez or her representatives, agents, or persons acting upon their orders and direction, through force and intimidation” took the exciters.

PAFI added that what SIAM and CCFI did were “illegal and immoral.”

“The acts committed by the respondents and/or their cohorts as narrated above... especially in taking or pulling out those exciters from their respective radio transmitters namely DYDD, DYHH and DYZZ constitute an abuse of or an unlawful interference with the processes or proceedings of a court, or an improper conduct tending, directly or indirectly to impede, obstruct, or degrade the administration of justice, which are contemptuous,” the petition read.

PAFI asked the court to order respondents and especially Jimenez to explain why they should not be held for contempt.

Cebu Provincial Board Member Grecilda Sanchez-Zaballero earlier filed a complaint over the turnover of three AM stations under El Nuevo Bantay Radyo to the Cebu CFI Community Cooperative, Inc.

She said that before the expiration of the management contract entered into by PAFI and SIAM, PAFI initiated a talk with the SIAM in December 2014 for the renewal of the management contract with  DyDD (Bantay Radio, DyHH, and DyZZ, which would expire on July 31, 2015.

After agreeing to renew the management contact, PAFI last April 10, 2015 deposited P700,000 to the account of SIAM as initial payment of its financial obligation.

PAFI likewise entered into agreement for the purchase of radio block time and other similar arrangements to provide income to PAFI.

Zaballero said after she came back from the United States, she was shocked when she received a letter from SIAM that it will not renew its contract with PAFI. Instead, SIAM will enter into a contract with Cebu CFI Community Cooperative Inc., because the latter has a higher offer.

Zaballero tried to contact SIAM’s representatives for the contract renewal  by sending a letter, which remained unanswered, prompting her to file a  complaint before the court. — Mylen P. Manto/RHM (FREEMAN)